When you're badly injured, the last thing you want to think about is filling out paperwork, searching for an attorney, or trying to gather evidence. Yet, these steps are necessary if you want to collect the compensation you deserve due to someone else's negligence. The more you know about personal injury cases and hiring an attorney, the less stressful this time will be.
We've created this website to offer basic personal injury law advice for anyone who has been injured or who may become injured in the future. Keep in mind that if you've been injured in a car accident, due to medical neglect, or even by slipping in someone else's parking lot, your case qualifies a personal injury case — and thus you'll find our collection of articles relevant.
When you are involved in an accident with a power tool at work, you will have the right to file a workers' compensation claim to receive compensation regardless of whether your injuries are your fault or not. However, there are limitations to how much you will be compensated for your injuries through workers' compensation and you may be entitled to compensation from the tool manufacturer.
How the Accident Occurred
You will want to involve a personal injury attorney as soon as possible so you can investigate why the accident occurred. For example, you will want to determine if the power tool itself was defective or if the tool was simply not used properly.
Some power tools are simply inherently dangerous because of their design. While most power tools, even those that operate at less than 5 HP, are dangerous if used incorrectly, others are dangerous even when used properly due to a defect in the design of the tool.
The Type of Injuries
The tool itself is not necessarily dangerous but also the fact that the tool is powered. There might be a defect in the wiring that leads to the power tool causing an electric shock. This can cause damage to internal organs and may even cause heart failure.
When the tool is in use, it might become stuck and this might create a hazardous situation. In other cases, the tool might be shut off and continue to operate and this might lead to you becoming injured unexpectedly.
The Investigation
After you have received medical treatment for your injuries as a result of the defective power tool at work, your personal injury attorney will launch an investigation to determine exactly what went wrong to cause you to suffer your injury and to what extent defects found in the tool are to blame.
Once your attorney has determined what went wrong, they must then determine if the defect was the result of a design flaw or whether the product was not manufactured properly. This will determine which party you will then take action against.
What to Expect
Even after filing a worker's compensation claim, you may also be able to receive compensation for pain and suffering. This will allow you to maximize your compensation for your injuries and will make it much easier to pay for any expenses you have when you are not able to work after your accident.